24-year-old Kerala woman Hadiya's case has been making headlines for a while now. Hadiya, born Akhila Ashokan, a Hindu, converted to Islam and married Shafin Jahan, a Muslim, in last December without the consent of her parents.

After
her father filed a petition in the Kerala High Court, claiming that
her husband was planning to take her to Syria to join the IS, the
Kerala HC annulled her marriage. She was sent to her parents' home
and lived there as a virtual prisoner with no access to outsiders.
With both right-wing Hindu and Muslim organisations jumping into the
fray, Hadiya is caught in the middle of an ugly tug of war between
the two groups who are fighting to claim her as their own.

In
Focus

After
the matter went to the Supreme Court – following the video shot by
Rahul Easwar, a Hindu activist, who argued that there was no forcible
conversion as Akhila had become a Muslim a year prior to her marriage
– it was decreed that she would be sent back to Salem to pursue her
education. The question of her marriage is yet to be decided. While
the parents have declared that Hadiya is mentally unstable, the girl
has herself expressed her wish to reunite and live with her husband,
the man she loves.

While
there is some evidence that young people from Kerala belonging to
other religions are being radicalised and sent to fight for the IS,
the numbers are quite minuscule. Besides, Hadiya's marriage could
be a genuine one, as adults have the right to choose their life
partners.

According
to Rahul Easwar, Hadiya did not have a good relationship with her
parents which to some extent could explain her personal decision over
chosing her life partner. But the question is: Does the state have a
right to override her decision? She is neither a minor nor mentally
ill, as her parents claim.

Hadiya
was forced to stay with her parents because of Kerala HC's decision.
Not discounting her parents' unhappiness with her choice of
marriage, this is not right by any means as it violates her
constitutional right of individual liberty. Furthermore, she was used
as a pawn by opposing ideologies in their efforts to score brownie
points. This is utterly reprehensible. Hadiya has the freedom to make
her own choice even if it may later turn out to be wrong. No court
can tell her who to live with or where she should live, simply
because she is a mature adult above the legal age of 18.

Meanwhile,
it is becoming difficult to ignore the narrative of Islamic
radicalisation in Kerala. The state should conduct studies and
initiate measures to prevent it. Parents should try to maintain a
healthy relationship with their children so that they they don't go
astray. There should be interfaith discussions on preserving communal
harmony which is under threat from both Hindu and Muslim right-wing
groups. Young people should also realise that there is nothing to be
gained by fighting as mercenaries in remote foreign lands. Even Saudi
Arabia, one of the biggest sponsors of Islamic terrorism, has now
turned a new leaf by denouncing it.

Hadiya's
case has come in handy for right-wing ideologies to foment social and
religious conflict in the state. The BJP is straining every sinew and
nerve to plant its flag in this southern state which has always been
an exemplar of communal harmony and amity. One hopes that it always
remains so.

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